Derek Norris rounds the bases on his three-run homer in the 11th inning.

Derek Norris rounds the bases on his three-run homer in the 11th inning.

Photo: Hannah Foslien, Getty Images

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Jim Johnson awaits a bunted popup in the ninth inning, the only out he was able to get.

Jim Johnson awaits a bunted popup in the ninth inning, the only out he was able to get.

Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn, Reuters

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On-deck batter Joe Mauer is pumped as Kurt Suzuki scores on a sacrifice fly, enabling Minnesota to tie the A's in the ninth.

On-deck batter Joe Mauer is pumped as Kurt Suzuki scores on a sacrifice fly, enabling Minnesota to tie the A's in the ninth.

Photo: Hannah Foslien, Getty Images

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Derek Norris' 3-run HR in 11th saves A's Jim Johnson

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Minneapolis --

In the beginning and end Wednesday, it was all A's. In between, though, Oakland had to contend with another messy outing by new closer Jim Johnson.

Johnson, an offseason acquisition who is making $10 million this season, failed in a big situation again, sending Wednesday's game at Target Field into extra innings. Catcher Derek Norris, who pinch hit in the ninth, won the game for Oakland in the 11th with a three-run blast to left-center, sinking the Twins 7-4.

It was the second homer for Norris in two games at Target Field, and it gave the A's their eighth consecutive victory against Minnesota. Norris, a platoon player who pinch hit against a left-hander, banged his homer off righty Jared Burton.

In his first five outings, Johnson has two losses, a blown save and one save, plus an 18.90 ERA. He has been forthright about his shortcomings, heaping loads of blame on himself, but the feeling was that with his track record - Johnson had a major-league-best 101 saves over the previous two seasons - he would be OK.

The fact that Johnson has continued to struggle in key situations makes it ever more likely that the A's might turn elsewhere, even if just for a short while. Sean Doolittle and Luke Gregerson are both potential candidates to close if Johnson is bypassed.

Asked about Johnson's status, A's manager Bob Melvin said, "We do so many different things around here, it's hard for me to comment on that right now."

As for who might be in line to get save opportunities should Johnson be supplanted, Melvin said, "I really don't know yet. And I don't know that there are potential options. I'm just saying that I'm not saying anything."

With one out, Eduardo Escobar's blooper fell in shallow left, sending in Kubel before Yoenis Céspedes nearly threw out Suzuki at third. The play was reviewed after Melvin used a challenge - it was unclear if Suzuki beat the throw to Josh Donaldson at third or if Donaldson kept his foot on the bag - but the call was unchanged.

Dan Otero replaced Johnson and Brian Dozier hit a sacrifice fly to right, with Suzuki sliding a hand across the plate just in front of the tag by Norris - a call upheld after yet another replay, and the run charged to Johnson.

Johnson doesn't believe he has any mechanical issues; one scout at Wednesday's game said it appears Johnson has an inconsistent release point and is rushing, plus his rocky start might be weighing on him.

Norris said that Johnson simply needs to get ahead of hitters better.

"Whatever he's got to do to change it, he will. He'll figure it out," Norris said. "He'll find it and he'll go on a roll."

Johnson said that whatever happens, he'll always put the team first. "If they want me to do whatever, I'll do whatever," he said. "It's just frustrating just because I feel like I've been doing everything I can and I only know one way to do it: I'm going to fight like hell."

Oakland scored four runs in the first inning, with seven batters reaching base safely before Phil Hughes recorded an out. Hughes, a free-agent signing this winter (three years, $24 million) drew some sarcastic cheers when he struck out John Jaso for the first out - but he settled down from that point on. The A's got only one more hit in the next nine innings, with Hughes working four of those.

"That was a good win," Melvin said, "a tough game to come back and win after doing nothing for basically eight innings."

Johnson's game log

Date

Opp

Score

IP

H

R

BB

March 31

Cle

L 2-0

.1

2

2

1

-- Entered 0-0 game to start the 9th and allowed both runs

April 2

Cle

L 6-4

.2

3

3

2

-- Started the 9th with 4-3 lead, allowed three runs for blown save

Saturday

Sea

L 3-1

1.0

1

0

0

-- Started the 8th with A's losing 3-0, pitched a scoreless inning

Sunday

Sea

W 6-3

1.0

1

0

1

-- Started the 9th with 6-3 lead, allowed two runners but got the save